Upcoming Events

The Effective Trustee

Wiltshire Community Foundation will be running a course on the role of Charity Trustees (also known as Committee Members or Board Members) in Devizes on Thursday 27th October, from 10am – 12 noon.

This talk will be helpful for existing Trustees and those considering becoming involved with a charity. It will take the form of a presentation with lots of time for questions.

Attendees will:
• Understand the framework within which charities operate
• Examine the responsibilities of trustees individually and collectively
• Look at charity constitutions and how they affect the Board
• Explore relationships on the Board and with the charity’s staff and volunteers

The Oxford Legal Walk

Kelly Jones, one of Wiltshire Law Centre's Trustees (and our former Solicitor) and Heather Reilly, their Trainee Solicitor will be participating in the Oxford Legal Walk on Monday 17th October 2016 to raise funds to ensure that the Wiltshire Law Centre are able to continue to provide the vital services they do to the people of Swindon.

With just 24 days to go until the walk takes place the team are looking to raise as much money as possible, with 75% of their donations target already being achieved.

Why are we walking?
For the poorest and the most vulnerable people in our community, access to justice is out of reach.
Free legal advice makes a huge difference to their lives. Elderly people who need support to stay living independently. families living in terrible housing conditions

Who do we help?
1. Adults and children who have been trafficked to the UK to become domestic or sex slaves
2. Men and women who are working for less than minimum wage
3. People who have been unfairly dismissed or who are discriminated against at work
4. People who suffer disability or illness and their carers

Swindon's own Harbour Fest!

Swindon charity the Harbour Project is organising a multi-cultural arts festival to bring home the messages of diversity, welcome and inclusion.

Harbour Fest Swindon will run from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th October - the aim is to bring communities together and raise awareness and funds for the Harbour Project, a charity which welcomes and supports newly-arrived refugees and asylum-seekers. The weekend of events also coincides with the launch of Swindon City of Sanctuary, which is part of a national campaign that seeks to foster a culture of hospitality towards refugees and asylum-seekers in towns and cities across the UK.

The festival will include an opening night of music, song and dance, as well as an 'undercover' film-show and disco, band night and pop-up exhibition of art from around the world.

Funding Opportunities

Grass-roots funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery

Postcode Local Trust is currently inviting applications that encourage lasting benefits by bringing people together to improve local ecology and habitats, encourage bio-diversity and benefit the wider environment.

Organisations must complete an Online Application Form, which is only available through the website until the closing date of Friday September 30th at 5pm.

Registered charities* in England, Scotland & Wales can apply from £500 - £20,000 (£10,000 in Wales) for projects meeting the above remit, whilst other organisations may apply for up to £2,000.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what your charity or community group is up to and we'll feature it in VAS id. Send through news items, upcoming events, training courses, funding opportunities and vacancies to vasid@vas-swindon.org